Is the Mandelbrot Set real?

John K Clark (johnkc@well.com)
Thu, 24 Jul 1997 22:40:37 -0700 (PDT)


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Wed, 23 Jul 1997 Hara Ra <harara@shamanics.com> Wrote:

>I am stating that IMO the platonic notion that the entire Mandelbrot
>set exists is unreal, and what is real is our limited representations
>of same in our physical brains, which are finite.

What's this "our" business? Your chain of reasoning invariably leads to the
conclusion that the only thing that's real is your thoughts, an obvious
absurdity. On the other hand, If you'd said the only think that's real is
John Clark's thoughts then it would be a much more reasonable theory.

Leaving solipsism aside, it's possible that you're correct, but is there any
reason to think that The Mandelbrot Set is less real than the chair you're
sitting on right now?

John K Clark johnkc@well.com

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